Buffs split in Saturday doubleheader

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (February 11, 2023) – The Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader contest with Shawnee State Saturday afternoon at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. The Buffs dropped the first of the two games but responded in a big way with a double-digit victory in game two.

Milligan rises to 7-2 on the season while Shawnee State is now 1-7.

Game 1 – Shawnee State 6, Milligan 5

Shawnee State struck first in game one with one run on one hit in the top of the first. After leading off with a double to right center, a walk followed by a passed ball gave the Bears two baserunners in scoring position. An RBI-groundout to short in the next at bat gave Shawnee a 1-0 lead.

After retiring the side in order in the top of the second, the Buffs put a three-spot up in the home half of the inning. After the first two hitters flied out center, back-to-back walks ensued. With runners on first and second, Andrew Mathias laced a double into the outfield to score two. Ryan Molinari then followed with a double of his own to plate Mathias and give the Buffs a 3-1 advantage going into the third.

Milligan threatened in the home half of the third with a runner in scoring position and one out. Unfortunately, the Buffs were unable to push across any runs with a pop-out and ground-out to end the inning.

Jaden Steagall began the bottom of the fourth with a single to right center. He then advanced to third base after a passed ball that the Bears catcher was unable to locate. Kobe Miles, pinch running for Brandon Marello, stole second base and allowed Steagall to score from third on the throw down.

Following a quiet fifth, Shawnee pushed four runs across on three hits and two Buffs' errors in the top of the sixth to take a one-run lead.

Steagall led the bottom half of the inning off with a single and later scored on an Angel Lobo base hit to left center to tie the game going into the final frame.

The Bears took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh. Following a one-out double to right center, an RBI base hit down the right field line scored the run and put Shawnee on top going into Milligan's final at-bat.

The Buffs failed to register any baserunners in the bottom of the seventh as Shawnee used a strikeout and two groundouts to the pitcher to end the game.

Game 2- Milligan 16, Shawnee State 6

The Buffs jumped on the board first in game two with two runs on two hits in the bottom half of the first. Marello led the inning off with a base hit to right field and stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Braden Spano then roped a one-out RBI-single to left scoring Marello and giving Milligan its first run of the ballgame. Back-to-back hit by pitches followed to load the bases with one out. Caleb Berry then picked up an RBI on a sac fly to left to that gave the Buffs a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second the Buffs added three more runs on four hits and one Shawnee State error. Logan Hullette led the inning off with a walk, then advanced to third on a failed pick off attempt. Marello scored Hullette on an RBI-single to right center. Lobo and Spano followed up with back-to-back base hits to load the bases with one out. Anthony Guzman then picked up a two-RBI single to left scoring both Marello and Lobo. Milligan led 5-0 after two.

The Bears got on the board with their first run of the game coming in the top of the third. A hit-by-pitch followed by a double down the left-field line allowed for the runner to cross the plate.

Milligan broke the game wide open in the home half of the third with nine runs on eight hits in addition to one Shawnee State error. Jack Sutton leadoff the inning with a base hit to left followed by a single from Hullette to give the Buffs runners on first and third with no outs. After a wild pitch that scored Sutton, Lobo scored Kobe Miles with an RBI-groudout to third base. With two outs, Milligan went on to score six more runs in the inning.

Spano picked up an RBI-double down the left field line following the groundout from Lobo and later scored on a two-RBI base hit from Casey Haire. Sutton, with his second hit of the inning, doubled to left center to score Berry and Haire. Back-to-back base hits from Mathias and Marello followed as the Buffs took a 14-1 lead.

The Bears chipped away at the Milligan lead in the top of the fourth with a grand slam to make it a 14-5 ballgame.

Shawnee State added another run in the top of the fifth to make it 14-6. After a single to begin the inning, an extra base hit allowed for the Bears baserunner to score.

The Buffs scored two more runs in the home half of the fifth to make it a 16-6 ballgame. Hullette began the frame with a base hit to left field before the Bears left fielder misplayed a line drive that went over his head to give Milligan runners at second and third. Marello followed up with a sac fly to left and Mathias later scored on a wild pitch.

After both squads were retired in order in the sixth, Graham Hooker struck out two and recorded the third out via a pop up to third base.

Three Buffs finished game two with three-hit days at the plate. Marello went three-for-five with three RBIs and two runs scored. Spano went three-for-five with two RBIs and two runs scored. Hullette went three-for-three with two runs scored and a walk.
As a staff, the Milligan pitchers combined for seven innings pitched, gave up six hits, six earned runs while striking out ten.

The Buffs will return to the diamond on Wednesday with a matchup against Alice Lloyd.